Otto Warmbier on trial in North Korea.

North Korea arrested Warmbier in January 2016 as he was leaving the country with a tourist group. They accused him of attempting to steal a propaganda poster and sentenced the 22-year-old to 15 years of hard labor.

North Korean authorities report that shortly following Warmbier’s sentencing, he slipped into a coma after he was given a sleeping pill for botulism, a kind of food poisoning. Doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center found no evidence of botulism, but they say he did have extensive brain damage possibly caused by oxygen deprivation.

What message does this send from North Korea to the rest of the world? Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs USA reflects, “I think it sends the message of a complete disrespect for the United States of America, a complete disrespect for even human decency and the rule of law, and it could bring about a chill in relations between our two countries. And again, saying it could bring about a chill, there already is very little communication, very little relationship there. It’s hard to know how the U.S. will respond.”

In a statement from Warmbier’s family, they share, “Unfortunately, the awful torturous mistreatment our son received at the hands of the North Koreans ensured that no other outcome was possible beyond the sad one we experienced today.”

(Photo courtesy of Christian Aid Mission)

Republican Sen. John McCain stated Warmbier’s death constituted “murder” at the hands of North Korea, and President Trump and other Washington lawmakers condemned the North Korean regime for its brutality.

Nettleton says, “I tend to agree with Senator John McCain who issued a statement saying the United States of America cannot and should not tolerate the murder of its citizens by hostile powers. It will be interesting to see how the Trump Administration and the State Department responds to this situation.”

If this is what happens to U.S. citizens in North Korean custody, Nettleton asks, what happens to North Korean citizens and Christians who simply disappear?

“It really shows the complete lack of respect for human life that the North Korean government has, and the fact that this would happen to an American, we can probably not even imagine the hardship and the suffering of North Koreans who are in those political prisoner camps [and] have been declared enemies of the North Korean government, enemies of the North Korean people. Their treatment is every bit as bad as Otto Warmbier’s and probably worse.”

(Map of North Korea courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

North Korea, a totalitarian communist nation, goes to great lengths to control anything they view as a threat to Communism or the state.

This also means Christians in North Korea are heavily targeted. “Some estimate [there are] 100,000 believers, some estimate more than that. Many of those are in those camps and they are suffering. But they have hope. We have the hope of eternity with Christ.”

Nettleton says Warmbier’s case reminds him of another detainee situation in North Korea. John Short, a 75-year-old Australian Christian, was arrested in North Korea in 2013 after leaving Gospel tracts near a Buddhist temple.

Nettleton says, “I had the chance to interview [Short] and I’ve been reminded of his experiences this week, and that interview is available on our VOM Radio podcast. So those who are wanting to know more about North Korea, I would just encourage them to look into that. Hearing John’s story, I think, has a lot of resonance this week as we pray for Otto’s family and as we hear about his death.”

Click here for part one of Short’s interview with Nettleton on VOM Radio, here for part two of Short’s interview, and here for the companion interview with Short’s wife, Karen Short.

As for praying for the Warmbier family, here is what Nettleton suggests: “I think as we talk about a response, my heart breaks for Otto’s family. I have a son who’s 23 and so this kind of hits very close to home to me, the fact that these people sent their son on a study abroad opportunity and he never came home whole, and so we want to pray for them that they will find comfort. I don’t know their spiritual situation, but certainly, I hope that they have the comfort of knowing Christ and of being followers of God.”

Please pray for the country of North Korea as well. “We pray for the people who are there, we pray for a government that is just and that honors human rights and honors the rule of law, not only for our Christian brothers and sisters there but for all North Koreans. All North Koreans deserve better opportunities and a better life than what they have under the Kim regime. So we pray that the Lord will bring that about somehow.”

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has already released the identity of the man behind the threat, 22-year-old student Mahmoud Shafik, also going under the name Abu Abdallah al-Masri.  Is this a warning from ISIS?

Church in Egypt. (Image courtesy of SAT-7)

SAT-7’s Founder and CEO Terry Ascott demurs, “We’re not completely sure it is ISIS.  A lot of people claim to be affiliated with ISIS and may be inspired by ISIS, but in this particular case, we’ve got a shocking attack that took place in December that killed a number of Copts.  They’re sort of building on the resulting consequent fear by saying they’re going to displace the Copts.”  Ascott is referencing the December 11th suicide bomber who killed himself at a church in Cairo, as well as at least two dozen others, mostly women and children.

Although the video promised a campaign to liberate Cairo of all Christians, Ascott says it isn’t a realistic threat.  “To put it into perspective, there are at least eight million, if not more, Coptic Orthodox Christians in Egypt.  And, in fact, the Christians in Egypt represent almost half of the Christians in the Middle East.  This is a very idle threat from an organization that is being displaced from Iraq.”

Consider this, too — the government is very hostile to ISIS in Egypt, says Ascott, adding that the people don’t even appear willing to tolerate the more moderate Muslim Brotherhood.  “They’re not going to welcome ISIS or ISIS sympathizers in Cairo.  This whole idea of them (ISIS) displacing the Coptic Orthodox Church or any Christians in Egypt that have been there since the time of the apostles is just silly.”

(Photo courtesy of Open Doors)

However, ISIS violence can’t be dismissed out of hand.  They’ve shown a willingness to make examples of anyone, in any manner, at any time.  Additionally, Christians do face discrimination and harassment at increasing levels.  However, that’s partly why SAT-7, a Christian satellite television ministry to the Middle East and North Africa, exists.

Ascott explains, “SAT-7 is a platform for Middle East Christians to speak into their societies.  Most of the presentations we do on SAT-7 are Arab Christians speaking to Arab Christians, or Iranian Christians speaking to Iranians, or Turkish Christians speaking to Turks to bring messages of hope — to present ideals that will change society.”

It also allows the community a space to talk about big issues.  “We’ve also had a number of dialogue programs where we’ve invited in religious leaders from all religions to discuss areas of common concern and interest.  This, again, shows respect, mutual respect and a commonality we have as human beings in the Arab world and in the Middle East, in general.”

(Image courtesy of SAT-7 KIDS)

SAT-7 uses all of their programming to make God’s love visible.  The result, muses Ascott, is that, “I think what we’ve managed to do is to kind of humanize Christians in the eyes of many who have demonized Christians across the region.  This has improved, generally, the attitudes of Muslims to Christians.”

Plus, biblical values are incorporated into the shows.  One example is SAT-7 KIDS, where, “…if younger members of the family really like this kind of programming and parents begin to see it has a positive impact on their kids and they’re learning good values and attitudes and they’re more at peace with themselves, then this is a real door opener.”

Then, with the huge displacement of Syrian refugees, education has become a felt need.  A whole generation has missed out on education and many of the Syrian refugee children have trouble getting into schools.  SAT-7 has a response to that, too, says Ascott.  “I think a new channel we’re going to launch later this year, called SAT-7 ACADEMY, is really just about providing education and teaching people how to learn, and supporting teachers and parents in their efforts to help their children learn.  These are all things that are going to help make a dent in the problem.”

It’s just plain exciting to see what kinds of opportunities are afforded to SAT-7 in a creative access region.  As a voice of hope, there are endless possibilities.  But with increasing pressure on Christians, isolation and discouragement is part of the landscape, too.  Ascott says, “We need to work with them, we need to encourage them.  We need, from the West, to pray for them, and to support the different ministries that both encourage and support the Church and help them in their outreach.”

Pray on behalf of those facing economic and social challenges because of their Christian faith.  Ask the Lord to provide for their spiritual and practical needs — further strengthening and emboldening them so they can effectively share biblical truth with others in their communities.  May the hearts of those who hear it be open and receptive to the wonderful truths contained in God’s Word.